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Breaking News: Dog Fighting Bust in Wisconsin

The ASPCA is currently on the ground assisting the Milwaukee Police Department and the District Attorney of Milwaukee County with a multi-site dog fighting raid in the City of Milwaukee. Milwaukee Area Domestic Animal Control Commission is transporting, sheltering and caring for the dogs.

Today, eight search warrants were executed at eight crime scenes, where 23 suspected fighting dogs were seized. Investigators also discovered blood on basement walls as well as other evidence of dog fighting, including treadmills, wound treatment supplies and muscle building supplements.

Experts from the ASPCA Field Investigations & Response (FIR) team are on hand to assist with evidence collection and documentation. The ASPCA has been assisting local authorities with this dog fighting investigation for nearly a year.

Dog fighting is a felony in all 50 states and the District of Columbia. The ASPCA is committed to eradicating the blood sport. We have designated April 8 as the first National Dog Fighting Awareness Day to advance the conversation about dog fighting, and to encourage animal lovers across the country to take action against this brutal form of cruelty.

In WI, the law states dogs seized in dog fighting rings are held as evidence until the owner is prosecuted and then 'humanely disposed of'. 16 dogs from a bust in WI in 2009 are still being held as evidence because charges have never been filed. A proposed bill to change the law was never brought to the floor for a vote for reasons unknown. Any change in the law will have to wait to be brought to the floor of the WI Senate in 2015.

Perhaps pictures could be taken when the victimized dogs are rescued, and then they could be allowed to be re-homed, providing that the new owners bring them to any required court appearance. then the judge could see how they were after being tortured, and what wonderful dogs they became after receiving good treatment and love.

I did not know this. Those dogs are in the shelter since 2009? Fucking bureaucracy!!! I am not born here but have two dogs,an American Bulldog and a pit/dane that I found out in the fields,emaciated and shivering,and carried her home.I am hoping to get a better job soon to be able to foster dogs. I have found 4 dogs in 2 years,they seem to find me.Two had owners,one I found a petstore owner that loved the dog and took her,and my Maia.